Phlebodium plant named ‘RAADPHLE01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Phlebodium plant named ‘RAADPHLE01’ which is characterized by an upright to arching growth habit, an abundance of light yellow-green juvenile fronds and dark green mature fronds, lobed fronds with crenulate margins that are strongly undulate, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Phlebodium aureum (L.)J. Sm.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Phlebodium disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘RAADPHLE01’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2018/3132, filed Nov. 29, 2018, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘RAADPHLE01’ is a spontaneous whole-plant mutation which wasdiscovered growing amongst a cultivated population of Phlebodium aureum‘Blue Star’ (not patented) which was discovered by the inventor inJanuary of 2015 at a commercial greenhouse in De Kwakel, theNetherlands. The mutation was first noted for its leaves which areshallowly to moderately lobed and strongly undulate compared to those ofthe parent plant.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘RAADPHLE01’, by way of meristematic tissue culture, was first initiatedin October of 2015 at a tissue culture laboratory in Burgh Haamstede,the Netherlands. Through two subsequent generations, the unique featuresof this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘RAADPHLE01’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘RAADPHLE01’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘RAADPHLE01’ as a new and distinct Phlebodium cultivar:

-   -   1. Phlebodium ‘RAADPHLE01’ exhibits an upright to arching growth        habit with an abundance of fronds; and    -   2. Phlebodium ‘RAADPHLE01’ exhibits light yellow-green juvenile        fronds which are covered with a thin layer of greyed-green        epicuticular wax; and    -   3. Phlebodium ‘RAADPHLE01’ exhibits dark green mature fronds        which are covered with a thin layer of greyed-green epicuticular        wax; and    -   4. Phlebodium ‘RAADPHLE01’ exhibits fronds which are shallowly        to moderately lobed with parallel to divergent sinuses.    -   5. Phlebodium ‘RAADPHLE01’ exhibits fronds margins are strongly        undulate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘RAADPHLE01’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Burgh Haamstede, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 30 week-old, shown planted in a12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical fronds of‘RAADPHLE01’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in June of 2019describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 30 week-old‘RAADPHLE01’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery containers at a greenhouse inBurgh Haamstede, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols which consisted of ebb andflow irrigation benches, shade cover, and liquid fertilizerapplications. No photoperiodic or pesticide treatments or artificiallight was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘RAADPHLE01’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘RAADPHLE01’ and a comparison with the parentplant and most similar commercial variety known to the inventor areprovided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial fern with an upright to            arching growth habit; leaves growing from a basal rhizomes.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—19.9 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 37.6 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately to highly vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Type — Mericloning. Crop time — Approximately            42 days to initiate rooting; 20 weeks from rooting to a            marketable 12 cm container plant.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            susceptibility nor resistance to pests and diseases common            to Phlebodium sp. have been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 13 and temperatures as high as 35 degrees Celsius; high            tolerance to rain; moderate tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Creeping rhizomes which are very densely covered            with a soft pubescence.        -   Length.—2.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.        -   Texture.—Densely pubescent; covered with a soft pubescence            of hairy scales. The average length of scales is 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Greyed-green, nearest to 190A; pubescence is colored            greyed-orange, nearest to a combination of RHS 164C and            164D.-   Fronds:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; growing from creeping basal            rhizomes.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Dimensions.—14.3 cm long and 15.0 cm wide, on average.        -   Shape.—Hastate.        -   Aspect.—Flat with leaf apices curled downward at an average            angle of 30 degrees to vertical.        -   Attitude.—At an average angle of 70 degrees to vertical;            older fronts are relaxed at an average angle of minus−30            degrees to vertical.        -   Apex.—Acute to broad acute.        -   Base.—Short attenuate.        -   Margin.—Crenulate and shallowly to moderately lobed with            parallel to divergent sinuses; leaves are strongly undulate.        -   Pubescence and texture and luster of adaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and glossy.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of abaxial surface.—Glabrous            and smooth, with the exception of the vein axils at the base            of the frond which exhibit small tufts of hair; hairs are            0.2 cm long on average and are colored yellow-white, nearest            to RHS 158D.        -   Luster of adaxial surface.—Matte.        -   Luster of abaxial surface.—Matte.        -   Color.—Juvenile frond, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 144A, and covered with a thin layer of            greyed-green epicuticular wax, nearest to RHS 188B. Juvenile            frond, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B,            and covered with a thin layer of greyed-green epicuticular            wax, nearest to RHS 188B. Mature frond, adaxial surface —            Green, nearest to RHS 137A, and covered with a thin layer of            greyed-green epicuticular wax, nearest to RHS 189B. Mature            frond, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS 137B, and            covered with a thin layer of greyed-green epicuticular wax,            nearest to RHS 189B.        -   Venation.—Pattern — Pinnate. Venation color, adaxial surface            — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147A. Venation color, abaxial            surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147A.        -   Petiole.—Length — 12.1 cm. Diameter — 0.75 cm. Strength —            Strong. Pubescence, texture and luster — Glabrous, smooth,            and glossy. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest            to RHS 146A. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest            to RHS 146A.-   Sori: No sori present.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘RAADPHLE01’ differ from the parent,Phlebodium aureum ‘Blue Star’ (unpatented), which is also the closestknown commercial comparator, in the characteristics described in Table 1below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘RAADPHLE01’ ‘Blue Star’ Growth habit. Morearching than More upright than ‘Blue Star’. ‘RAADPHLE01’. Generalcoloration of Darker green than Lighter green than the mature frond.‘Blue Star’. ‘RAADPHLE01’. Frond margins. Crenulate and Entire andundulated. undulated.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phlebodiumplant named ‘RAADPHLE01’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.